Gracie To Frank Carroll?

Looks like we have some semi-official confirmation from Phil Hersh that Gracie is moving out to California to be coached by Frank Carroll. TSL (The Skating Lesson) has been hinting about this for about a week too. I thought I would start a thread where we could discuss the move.

Philip Hersh &#8207;@olyphil 31m
Source just confirmed that @GraceEGold is going to join Frank Carroll. Odd time for coach switch. Oly year panic?

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Philip Hersh &#8207;@olyphil 29m
Waiting to hear from Frank Carroll, but source tells me they want some in-person sessions before making it @GraceEGold switch official

As a fan of Gracie's I'm thrilled, not just for this year but for the future. I don't think it's Olympic year panic as she has another 4 years ahead of her IMO. It might have been better had she switched a few months ago but what is done is done. I hope Frank gets Lori to give her some new programs. Whatever she can come up with has to better than the current programs Gracie has.

Uprooting her life and moving across the country 4-5 months before the Olympics with the competitive season already underway is just going to add to the Olympic year pressure she'll already be feeling. Very odd timing.

I could see getting new programs at this point. But an entire life change right now is quite a risk. She's barely 18 and a sudden move can't be easy on her family (whether or not any of them choose to go with her). It sounds like quite a stressful situation.

I think Frank will definitely be good for her. She is an extraordinary athlete, and I see her working very hard toward being musical, but it really isn't there yet. Looking forward to Gold&Carroll vs Wagner&Nicks

Is Scott Brown coming along for the ride?

I understand why these changes happen, still I'm crushed for her coach Ouriashev. He seemed so invested in her success.

Excellent choice for what she needs, but the timing is rough.
Who prompted the move? USFS or Gracie's people? Would love to have been at the table when someone floated the idea, "Hey, let's check in with Frank Carroll, you know, Michele Kwan's old coach. I bet he could really work wonders."

Flippant comment aside this is not an easy change to implement -particularly this close to Olympics.
Is sister Carly part of the deal (at least at some level)?
I agree that perhaps a stronger choreographer on hand may have smoothed out many of the glaring faults, but long term (assuming Frank is looking to coach long term), Frank is her best option.
This type of drama just adds to they Olympic season hype! Fun, fun. Ahhh, skating, never dull !!!!!

I personally don't consider Frank Carroll a miracle worker, nor any coach for that matter, it's the SKATER that does all the hard work and has the mind of a champion. Imho it never mattered who his/her coach was/is, some skaters are just meant to be champions no matter what, though it does help to have a very influencial coach for political reasons.

And I have to say I personally give two thumbs up to those skaters that *never* left their coach, and they both ascended the ladder of success together. Some examples:

I wish Gracie could have left her coach in a way that didn't cause the coach to tell Phil Hersh that he's "shocked and disappointed." No doubt he is, but wasn't there a way to do it so that he didn't feel the need to speak publicly? I'm sure it's difficult, like breaking up. But he did bring her this far and was owed more than a "I don't want to work with you anymore." As for Gracie's decision at this point in the season, she isn't going to win the Olympics this year anyway, so why not if she thinks it will help. She definitely needs help, but it's unclear whether going to Carroll will do it for her. It didn't help Mirai.

I wish Gracie could have left her coach in a way that didn't cause the coach to tell Phil Hersh that he's "shocked and disappointed." No doubt he is, but wasn't there a way to do it so that he didn't feel the need to speak publicly? I'm sure it's difficult, like breaking up. But he did bring her this far and was owed more than a "I don't want to work with you anymore." As for Gracie's decision at this point in the season, she isn't going to win the Olympics this year anyway, so why not if she thinks it will help. She definitely needs help, but it's unclear whether going to Carroll will do it for her. It didn't help Mirai.

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It helped Mirai get to the Olympics and do very well there, even if the success was short-term. I'm wondering, does Gracie maybe plan NOT to continue until 2018 and just want to go to the Olympics this season, medal there, and be done with the sport (for college, I heard she wants to be an orthodontist, that's a lot of school), and if so, she thinks the only way she has a chance to medal is by running to Frank?

It helped Mirai get to the Olympics and do very well there, even if the success was short-term. I'm wondering, does Gracie maybe plan NOT to continue until 2018 and just want to go to the Olympics this season, medal there, and be done with the sport (for college, I heard she wants to be an orthodontist, that's a lot of school), and if so, she thinks the only way she has a chance to medal is by running to Frank?

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I think Team Gracie wants to rule the world. She's not stepping away at 18.

This move baffles me. You don't change coaches as the season is just starting. Not sure what Gracie is thinking but it's going to be even more pressure on her now working with a new coach. She better be careful or she might find herself not even on the Olympic team.

I personally don't consider Frank Carroll a miracle worker, nor any coach for that matter, it's the SKATER that does all the hard work and has the mind of a champion. Imho it never mattered who his/her coach was/is, some skaters are just meant to be champions no matter what, though it does help to have a very influencial coach for political reasons.

And I have to say I personally give two thumbs up to those skaters that *never* left their coach, and they both ascended the ladder of success together. Some examples:

This move baffles me. You don't change coaches as the season is just starting. Not sure what Gracie is thinking but it's going to be even more pressure on her now working with a new coach. She better be careful or she might find herself not even on the Olympic team.

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Sale & Pelletier switched coaches at the start of the 2002 season. It didn't hurt them.

Leaving Frank at the start of the 2002 Olympic season hurt Michelle because she tried to do it on her own, without a coach.

I was wondering if some of Frank's time freed up for Gracie because a certain Olympic Gold Medalist has realized he might be too injured to make the Olympics. I dont know that Frank would stay with Gracie to the next quad , but I think that is thinking too far ahead. The career of a skater is so short and tenuous, she needs to do what she thinks is best for THIS Olympic season.

Sale & Pelletier switched coaches at the start of the 2002 season. It didn't hurt them.

Leaving Frank at the start of the 2002 Olympic season hurt Michelle because she tried to do it on her own, without a coach.

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I believe S/P left Gauthier well before the "start" of the season. IIRC, it was in June, not in September as is the case here. It will be interesting to see how this works for Gracie. There must have been some reason she felt she needed other coaching.

I'm not sure what to make yet of a coaching switch for Gracie; however, I just viewed her short program at the US Classic and felt that the music choice is too frantic. So, if she is going to change short programs she should do it soon obviously. But to stay on topic, it seems Gracie has a good work ethic so if she works with Frank he might be able to settle her down and get her mentally more relaxed before competitions.

It helped Mirai get to the Olympics and do very well there, even if the success was short-term.

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Gracie's coach has done about as much for her as Frank did for Mirai. Gracie hasn't been to the Olympics yet, but is on the verge. She was a World team member who did very well there. And Mirai was a National Champion before Frank. I would say, Frank or no Frank, Gracie's chances of medaling at the Olympics are very small. But she does need a lot of help in her presentation. Maybe Frank (and Lori Nichol?) can help her with that aspect of her skating. I do think USFSA sees Gracie as their hope for the future and probably had a role in her making this switch.